Measles accelerates to 2nd-highest level in USA in 25 years
- by Joy Garcia
- in Medicine
- — Apr 19, 2019
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) also released a report stating that the number of reported global cases of measles has increased by 300 percent in the first few months of 2019, in comparison to the same period of time previous year.
Those born before 1957 or who previously had measles or had two measles vaccine shots are considered immune because of the vaccine's high rate of effectiveness.
It noted that the rise of the number of measles cases follows consecutive increases during the previous two years.
For the third week in a row, United States health officials have added dozens of new reports to the year's list of confirmed measles cases, bringing the total to 555 - already the highest number in the past five years.
A child care center in Williamsburg has been ordered to shut down because of violations regarding measles vaccinations.
In Madagascar, one of the poorest nations in the world, an outbreak began in September 2018, and at least 117,075 cases of the disease have been reported by the nation's health ministry as of last month.
Many of this year's cases occurred as part of ongoing measles outbreaks in several USA cities, and most infected people were unvaccinated, according to the CDC.
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In a bid to curb the outbreak, health officials are trying to track down anyone who might have come into contact with people who have measles. Early measles symptoms of high fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes typically develop 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Numerous cases are associated with travelers returning from countries that are also experiencing outbreaks, including Israel and the Philippines.
"Just a few decades ago, we assumed measles was defeated, but now it's roaring back", said state Senator Brad Hoylman.
The measles vaccine is included in the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine, which has become a target of people who believe it is unnatural or unsafe, contrary to widely accepted science.
Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a public health emergency last week, requiring people living in parts of Brooklyn to get vaccinated.
Global coverage with the first dose has "stalled" at 85 per cent, against 95 per cent needed to prevent outbreaks, while 25 countries still do not include a second dose in their national programmes, it said. Measles took the lives of almost 110,000 individuals around the world in 2017, the WHO said.
Africa has seen the biggest increase - 700%, Europe has increased by 300%, the Eastern Mediterranean region 100%, the Americas 60%, and 40% increases in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. The 329 account for numerous nation's 555 cases in 2019.
